Method and system for securely holding an object in a vehicle

Abstract

A method and system for securely holding an object in a vehicle that include providing a command to enable an automated holder. The method and system also include determining a physical profile of the object placed upon a surface of the automated holder upon enablement of the automated holder, wherein determining the physical profile includes evaluating information pertaining to physical dimensions of the object. The method and system further include modifying a configuration of the surface of the automated holder to securely hold the object based on the physical profile of the object.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for securely holding an object in a vehicle comprising:
 providing a command to enable an automated holder; 
 determining a physical profile of the object placed upon a surface of the automated holder upon enablement of the automated holder, wherein determining the physical profile includes evaluating information pertaining to physical dimensions of the object; and 
 modifying a configuration of the surface of the automated holder to securely hold the object based on the physical profile of the object. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the command to enable the automated holder includes sensing a presence of the object to be within a predetermined proximity to the surface of the automated holder by at least one proximity sensor and providing the command to provide power to at least one component of the automated holder. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the command to enable the automated holder includes sensing a presence of the object placed on the surface of the automated holder by at least one of: at least one photoelectric sensor, and at least one weight sensor and providing the command to provide power to at least one component of the automated holder. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the physical profile of the object placed upon the surface includes evaluating: data provided by a vehicle camera system that pertains to the physical dimensions of the object, data provided by at least one photoelectric sensor that pertains to the physical dimensions of the object, and data provided by the at least one weight sensor that pertains to the physical dimensions of the object. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining the physical profile of the object placed upon the surface includes integrating the data provided by the vehicle camera system, the data provided by the at least one photoelectric sensor, and the data provided by the at least one weight sensor to determine the physical profile of the object, wherein the physical profile of the object includes data that is indicative of at least one of: a length of the object, a width of the object, a height of the object, a depth of the object, a weight of the object, a density of the object, a form factor of the object, data pertaining to a shape of the object, and data pertaining to a physical configuration of the object. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein modifying the configuration of the surface includes evaluating the physical profile of the object and determining at least one of: an amount of ascension that is to be applied to at least one portion of the surface based on the physical profile, and an amount of descension that is to be applied to at least one portion of the surface based on the physical profile. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein modifying the configuration of the at least one portion of the surface includes at least one of: sending at least one actuation signal to at least one actuator connected to the at least one portion of the surface to mechanically ascend the at least one portion of the surface and sending at least one signal to the at least one actuator configured connected to the at least one portion of the surface to mechanically descend the at least one portion of the surface. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein modifying the configuration of the at least one portion of the surface includes at least one of: sending at least one signal to at least one actuator connected to the at least one portion of the surface to chemically ascend the at least one portion of the surface and sending the at least one signal to the at least one actuator configured under the at least one portion of the surface to chemically descend the at least one portion of the surface. 
     
     
       9. A system for securely holding an object in a vehicle comprising:
 a memory storing instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to: 
 provide a command to enable an automated holder; 
 determine a physical profile of the object placed upon a surface of the automated holder upon enablement of the automated holder, wherein determining the physical profile includes evaluating information pertaining to physical dimensions of the object; and 
 modify a configuration of the surface of the automated holder to securely hold the object based on the physical profile of the object. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein providing the command to enable the automated holder includes sensing a presence of the object to be within a predetermined proximity to the surface of the automated holder by at least one proximity sensor and providing the command to provide power to at least one component of the automated holder. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein providing the command to enable the automated holder includes sensing a presence of the object placed on the surface of the automated holder by at least one of: at least one photoelectric sensor, and at least one weight sensor and providing the command to provide power to at least one component of the automated holder. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein determining the physical profile of the object placed upon the surface includes evaluating: data provided by a vehicle camera system that pertains to the physical dimensions of the object, data provided by at least one photoelectric sensor that pertains to the physical dimensions of the object, and data provided by the at least one weight sensor that pertains to the physical dimensions of the object. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein determining the physical profile of the object placed upon the surface includes integrating the data provided by the vehicle camera system, the data provided by the at least one photoelectric sensor, and the data provided by the at least one weight sensor to determine the physical profile of the object, wherein the physical profile of the object includes data that is indicative of at least one of: a length of the object, a width of the object, a height of the object, a depth of the object, a weight of the object, a density of the object, a form factor of the object, data pertaining to a shape of the object, and data pertaining to a physical configuration of the object. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein modifying the configuration of the surface includes evaluating the physical profile of the object and determining at least one of: an amount of ascension that is to be applied to at least one portion of the surface based on the physical profile, and an amount of descension that is to be applied to at least one portion of the surface based on the physical profile. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein modifying the configuration of the at least one portion of the surface includes at least one of: sending at least one actuation signal to at least one actuator connected to the at least one portion of the surface to mechanically ascend the at least one portion of the surface and sending at least one signal to the at least one actuator configured connected to the at least one portion of the surface to mechanically descend the at least one portion of the surface. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14 , wherein modifying the configuration of the at least one portion of the surface includes at least one of: sending at least one signal to at least one actuator connected to the at least one portion of the surface to chemically ascend the at least one portion of the surface and sending the at least one signal to the at least one actuator configured under the at least one portion of the surface to chemically descend the at least one portion of the surface. 
     
     
       17. A method for securely holding a portable electronic device in a vehicle comprising:
 providing a command to enable an automated holder; 
 determining a physical profile of the portable electronic device placed upon a surface of the automated holder upon enablement of the automated holder, wherein determining the physical profile includes evaluating information pertaining to physical dimensions of the portable electronic device; and 
 modifying a configuration of the surface of the automated holder to securely hold the portable electronic based on the physical profile of the portable electronic device. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein providing the command to enable the automated holder includes determining a connection between the portable electronic device and a communication device of the vehicle and providing the command to provide power to at least one component of the automated holder. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further including providing the command to disable the automated holder, wherein providing the command to disable the automated holder includes determining a disconnection between the portable electronic device and the vehicle communication system of the vehicle and providing the command to stop providing the power to the at least one component of the automated holder. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein modifying the configuration of the surface includes evaluating the physical profile of the portable electronic device and determining at least one of: an amount of ascension that is to be applied to at least one portion of the surface, and an amount of descension that is to be applied to at least one portion of the surface, wherein modifying the configuration of the at least one portion of the surface includes at least one of: sending at least one actuation signal to at least one actuator connected to the at least one portion of the surface to mechanically ascend the at least one portion of the surface and sending at least one signal to the at least one actuator configured connected to the at least one portion of the surface to chemically ascend the at least one portion of the surface.